The NYSDOH works with a select group of doctors ("sentinel providers") across the state who report the total number of patients they saw and the total number of those patients with complaints of illness consistent with flu every week.

The graph below represents the percent of visits to these sentinel providers that were for patients with complaints of illness consistent with flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses trends from past years to come up with a "regional baseline" rate of doctors' visits for illness consistent with flu. For NYS, the "regional baseline" is currently 2.4%. Numbers above this "regional baseline" suggest high levels of illness consistent with flu in the state.

Percent of Visits to Sentinel Providers in NYS (Outside of NYC) for Flu-like Illness (season to date, by week)

Hospitalizations for Flu - Statewide (NYS and NYC)

All hospitals in NYS and NYC report to NYSDOH the number of patients admitted to their hospital with a positive flu test (any type of test, for any type of flu).

147 out of 218 hospitals (67%) statewide completed the report.

Age Groups for Hospitalized Flu Patients

Hospitalized Flu Patients, Current and Prior Flu Seasons

Note: Routine influenza surveillance begins with week 40 and ends with week 20. Surveillance during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic resulted in changes to the routine surveillance periods for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, as follows:

2008-09 season began with week 40 and ended with week 34.

2009-10 season began with week 35 and ended with week 20.

Pediatric Deaths Associated with Flu – Statewide (NYS and NYC)

Since December 2004, flu-associated deaths in children younger than 18 years old have been reportable in NYS.

All pediatric flu-associated deaths included in this report are laboratory-confirmed.